Question:
My peonies bloom poorly. What could be wrong?Answer:
There are several factors which may cause peonies to bloom poorly. Peonies perform best in areas that receive at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Peonies that receive less than 4 hours of direct sun will not bloom well. Plants growing in a shady location should be transplanted to sunny site in September. Peonies planted too deeply often fail to bloom well. When planting peonies, position the peony buds 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface. Peonies that are planted too deeply produce lush foliage, but don’t bloom well. Recently planted or divided peonies may not bloom well for 2 or 3 years. The new plants need to grow stronger before they are capable of blooming well. Also, premature removal of peony foliage in July or August weakens plants, resulting in few flowers the following spring.